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Symposium

03/05/2014

The first two days of the Fire Protection Research Foundation's "Fire Suppression, Detection and Signaling Research and Applications Symposium" (SUPDET) being held this week in Orlando is focusing on the latest technologies and research on fire suppression. Papers on sprinkler protection, high hazard challenges, developments in suppression technologies, the environment, and water mist.

In addition to the papers already featured in previous blog posts, the following presentations were offered in Orlando:

The inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) of water-based fire protection systems was the topic of a presentation at the Research Foundation’s symposium in Orlando.

Bill Koffel, president of Koffel Associates, Inc., who serves as Chair of the NFPA 25 technical committee that addresses the ITM of fire pumps, sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, and other water-based systems, explained that the document does not address deficiencies in the design or installation of these systems.

Mr. Koffel said a workshop was held in Chicago in December 2013 that addressed the performance of sprinkler systems. Attendees, which included manufacturers, insurers, AHJs, and other interested groups, considered what sprinkler performance issues might be effectively addressed by changes in NFPA 25, such as changes to the document scope and content or how it is implemented, applied, or enforced. Also considered were possible changes to other NFPA documents. For example:

Tom Multer of The Reliable Sprinkler Automatic Sprinkler Co. presented at the Research Foundation's SUPDET in Orlando.

The protection challenges for storage commodities have increased with the storage of more plastics, whether cartooned or uncartoned, expanded or unexpanded. The building heights have also increased, particularly with the use of high bay storage using automated storage and retrieval systems.

In his presentation at the Fire Protection Research Foundation symposium being held this week in Orlando, Thomas Multer of The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co, Inc., described a series of fire tests using horizontal barriers and large k factor extended coverage storage sprinklers as in-rack protection. The goals of these tests included reducing the number of in-rack sprinklers required, reducing water demands, protecting buildings higher than 48’ with low water demands, and retrofitting existing facilities without changing the existing ceiling sprinklers or increasing water flows or pressures.

Daniel Steppan and Ivar Fjeldheim present at the Research Foundation's SUPDET in Orlando.

Daniel Steppan of Underwriters Laboratories and Ivar Fjeldheim, product manager of Autostore, discussed a series of four fire tests to determine the effectiveness of a density/area ceiling sprinkler system to control burning plastic bins and cartons in a vertical racking configuration.

The tests looked at the storage set-up at AutoStore, which uses robots to collect bins from a tightly packed storage rack constructed of aluminum components. Because people do not normally access the storage area, the probability for unintentional or intentional ignition caused by personnel is considered low. But design challenges, from a fire suppression standpoint, include bins that have solid bottoms that are not permeable to water, and narrow flue spaces that would limit the amount of water from sprinklers that could reach the seat of the fire.

The objectives of the fire tests was to develop an efficient sprinkler protection concept that could supress a fire at an early stage and protect the building, limit fire spread and damage, anda determine the most effective manual fire-fighting and post fire mitigation strategy.

A trio of authors who wrote a research paper on testing the flammability of lithium ion batteries were honored this morning at the Fire Protection Research Foundation’s symposium (SUPDET) in Orlando. Their paper, which was offered at the Foundation’s symposium last year, received the William M. Carey award, which recognizes the best presentation in the Suppression portion of the symposium as voted by participants.

The award was presented to Christopher Wieczorek, Group Manager Fire Protection at FM Global; Benjamin Ditch, Senior Research Engineer at FM Global (who was unable to attend this symposium); and Tom Long, director of Exponent’s Maryland office, for their paper "Flammability Characterization Testing of Lithium Ion Batteries”.

William Carey, for whom the award is named, is a former senior staff engineer at Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. He participated in many Foundation fire suppression projects, and throughout his career, was known for being "the bridge" between research and application of new fire safety knowledge.

Christopher Wieczorek, Group Manager Fire Protection at FM Global, accepts his award from Amanda Kimball, project manager of the Fire Protection Research Foundation.

Tom Long of Exponent with Amanda Kimball, project manager of the Fire Protection Research Foundation.

Why do fire protection systems sometimes fail? During a session today at the Research Foundation’s symposium in Orlando, Jeffrey Pfaendtner of Crane Engineering presented highlights of 13 different case studies that demonstrated a wide range of design, manufacture, installation, and environmental factors that eventually led to system failure.

“No component is immune to failure,” said Mr. Pfaendtner, adding that all materials have their own vulnerabilities and application issues. Failure prevention requires good system design, material choices, and good installation and maintenance protocols. he said.

03/04/2014

The latest news and developments in research, technology, and applications for the fire protection community is being discussed in Orlando this week. The Fire Protection Research Foundation's "Fire Suppression, Detection and Signaling Research and Applications Symposium" (SupDet) is being held at the studeht union building at the University of Central Florida. More than 30 presentations will be offered this week, as well as a special workshop on Wednesday afternoon that will focus on "SMART Buildings and Fire Safety".

10/03/2013

As the Foundation's symposium on The Next Five Years in Fire and Electrical Safety approaches on November 13,14 in Washington, DC, I'd like to preview some of the insights of our presenters - this time from the session on the Changing Urban Landscape.

Antony Wood, Executive Director of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, will provide his global vision on the changing nature of our cities - from the Super Tall building phenomenon to the emerging range of building types and uses.

Dan O'Connor, Chief Technical Officer for Aon Fire Protection Engineering, will share his views on the implications of these changes on building fire safety and the pace of innovation in fire safety design.

Carl Wren, Chief Engineer, Austin Fire Department, will explain how his department is adapting to this new environment.

Adam Thiel, Chief, City of Alexandria Fire Department, will discuss emerging fire fighting tactics and other concerns of the emergency response community.